Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Travel Blogs

Surfing on the Pacific Ocean
Feb 25, 2004 (12 photos)

... we got to the gravel highway) were a pleasure to drive on. With its minimal traffic on winding country roads New Zealand certainly has some of the best drivers' roads I've experienced. When we arrived at the lake the sun was low and reflecting off the ...

First stop on the lake
Feb 26, 2004 (19 photos)

... I may have referred to them previously in passing): Tramp = Hike, e.g. We are going tramping today. Bluff = Cliff, e.g. Beware of the steep bluff. Bush = Forest, e.g. The track goes through the bush. DOC = Department of Conservation, e.g. How far ...

Milling in Mercury Bay
Jun 12, 2006 (9 photos)

Welcome again! So after Bay of Islands (all pix will be up soon), after a quick stop off in Auckland again for a night, we all headed for Mercury Bay. Which, without confusing you, is another stop off on the way to Rotorua! We got to Mercury bay in the ...

The White Islands
Apr 9, 2005 (5 photos)

... . This time my toast stayed put because the sea we pretty calm and the day was perfect. There are only two active volcanoes in New Zealand and you could smell the sulfur and see the different colors as you pull up near the island. We got the grand tour ...

Whakatane and White Island!
Apr 8, 2005 (10 photos)

I arrived in Whakatane on Tuesday afternoon, and as is often the case in the Bay of Plenty, the weather was gorgeous. So too was the lovely Nadene who picked me up from town and took me to Karibu Backpackers (www.karibubackpackers.co.nz). She owned the ...

Fred the friendly Possum
Feb 23, 2004 (8 photos)

... in the morning. It was extremely dark, which gave ideal conditions for some night time photography, and Sebastian took some pictures of the illuminated tent. This was our first night of camping in a random field and as we went to sleep I had visions ...

beaches and brimstone
Dec 27, 2005 (14 photos)

... turkey, and the traditional Kiwi dessert of pavlova. (A small war can be provoked by opening the debate of whether pavlova is an Australian or New Zealand invention). On Boxing Day we decided to be a bit more active, and so was our destination. White ...

Long walk around the lake
Feb 27, 2004 (10 photos)

... back to the motor camp) to send a boat to this location at this time. If anything really serious happens there are a couple of helicopter landing pads around the lake, but word still needs to get to rescue services in order to get air lifted. After ...

Whakatane
Mar 10, 2008 (14 photos)

... placed to the Maoris and need to be treated with great respect.   After our long winding and dusty trip we arrived a Whakatane (pronounced fa-ka-ta-ne) which is the closest town to NZ most active volcano called White Island. The volcano is said to ...

White Island Volcano
Jan 12, 2004 (9 photos)

... Island, "NZ's only active marine volcano". We based ourselves in the picturesque little river-side town of Whakatane on the east coast's Bay of Plenty, from where we took an excellent tour to the volcano with 'Peejays White Island Tours'. The 90- ...

Walking on an active volcano!!
Mar 16, 2004 (5 photos)

... my first time on the North Island a month ago, I'd been very keen on a trip to White Island - the chance to walk on New Zealand's most active volcano. And finally the Gods were smiling, the rain wasn't falling (or not too heavily), and we were able to get ...

New Zealand - White Island
Jan 18, 2007 (23 photos)

... let the cold waves wash over him - the perfect compromise! Though on some occasions the water coming from the spring got a little too hot! (PIC)    Leaving Hot Water Beach we headed to New Zealand's capital city, Auckland - the city of sails.

Dolphin Swimming!!! (Or lack of.....)
Apr 18, 2006

We came to Whakatannee to see if we could swim with the dolphins here, apparently there are loads of them. But, like it had been on the South Island, the weather was bad. Luckily the people we were going with decided to brave it and take us out ...

Bay of Plenty
Jan 5, 2004 (9 photos)

... dead these seven years. From Mount Manganui we travel east, past the world's largest kiwi fruit at Te Puke, along the rim of the expansive Bay of Plenty. Except for our quick trip from the farm to the coast, this is the first time we've been back on the ...

Hicks Bay - Opotiki
Mar 10, 2006

Well we were on the most eastly point in new zealand now so we had to make the effort of getting up in the morning to take some photos but it was a little dissapointing due to it being over cast but you cant have everything (something you really reliase ...

Sickenss, gas masks and volcano's
Mar 6, 2008

... where things are, in fact there was a distinct lack of english by the indian lady which made us question whether we were still in new zealand. eventually got our key to find our bed had not been made up, so waited for that. then we set out in the rain ...

Stayed south of Opotiki, at wairata
Jan 21, 2008 (4 photos)

Stayed on the best scenic reserve at Wairata, south of Opotiki, It's on the highway number 2, and you see some amazing views on the way.

Active volcano - White Island
Mar 11, 2007 (3 photos)

... good, so we brought forward our volcanic adventure. Headed east along SH2 to Tauranga, then Te Puke and finally arrived at Whakatane. Camped at Awakeri Springs, just outside Whakatane. A big open site with its own thermal swimming pool. Now this is what ...

Collecting my greenstone Carvings
Apr 18, 2007 (5 photos)

I drove from Napier to Whakatane - I collected my greenstone carvings today from Te Kaha; I stopped in Rotorua for my lunch and got to Te Kaha's just after 3pm.  The Hei Tiki is just better than I could have imagined.  My other carving is called& ...

The Beach Beckons
Dec 22, 2004 (1 photos)

... , figeting, complaining, and under-appreciation. The coast brings me peace. From Rotorua, British Joe and I headed for the Bay of Plenty, and a hostel called "The Opotiki Beach House". This place gave me the coastal fix I needed, with a great deck, ...

White Island - can it get more awesome??!!
Apr 7, 2009 (10 photos)

10 x WOW!!! Have just had the most fantastic day at White Island, New Zealands volcannic island off Bay of Plenty. White Island is very special, as it is located 50km off shore and it is active! Last time it errupted was in 2000 and it is in a slumber ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !!
Jan 4, 2007 (11 photos)

... to a local party, where we saw in the New Year.  So what next?  Well, I'm mostly staying in beautiful Whakatane, walking on the beach, having picnics, playing with Molly (Dad's beautiful dog - cross between poodle and spaniel - Spoodle!!  ...

Kiwi Orchard
Aug 30, 2005 (5 photos)

... just made it even more enjoyable. It was excitement on the Saturday evening with 2 important rugby matches. The first was the New Zealand All Blacks against the South African Sring Boks in the Tri-Nation tournament (NZ, SA, and Australia). So in support ...

Sunny again and volcano views
Jan 12, 2009 (16 photos)

en route to Whakatane

Ohope Beach
Mar 18, 2007

Ohope Beach

Standing on an Active volcano
Apr 12, 2006

... to go on a tour to see the hobbit holes and i wasn't that keen! I then drove around Tauranga for a while (loads of traffic) before heading to whakatane. The hostel there was a friendly place with only about 12 people in it so its one of them where you get ...

What I want!
Jun 24, 2009 (7 photos)

... . The owners were quite laid back about the fact he'd got loose but I was glad he was back safe. So if your one of my friends/family start thinking about whether you'd be a dog sitter or can offer other advice. Do you get dog friendly rented accomadation? ...

Smoking @ White Island!
Dec 19, 2005 (5 photos)

Géysers, volcanes y ballenas
Mar 8, 2008

... eran también sitios sagrados para los Maori e incluso usaban y aún usan estas termas para cocinar. Tras Rotorua nos fuimos a Whakatane, donde teníamos una excursión planeada. Esta vez fuímos a White Island, uno de los volcanes marítimos activos de este país. ...

White island, bay of plenty
Mar 11, 2007 (24 photos)

... .. ca fatigue de conduire.. les auberge ouverte tard si c est pas 24h sur 24h.. bref donc de retourd sur la baie of plenty a Whakatane.. on s est reserve un trip d une journee a White Island.. de nouveau t a spas de concurrence, juste un tour.. c est ...